FlipTheBird

There seems to be a few misguided posters who either think the O's take it easy after winning the first two games of a series... or have fallen prey to some "curse" that prevents sweeps. I say this because I've seen numerous folks complaining about it already this year. A sweep isn't easy. Just because you won the first two games doesn't make the third game any easier. You're still facing a competitive MLB opponent.

I doubt anyone started doping up just because of the extra effort of a few WBC games. Truth it, there are probably a lot of guys in the league that still used substances that are banned/frowned upon. There are ways to hide it. These ways are also not 100% foolproof (it's a human error factor, really - guys make mistakes on their regimens), hence players occasionally getting caught. For as long as human beings have competed in sporting events, they've looked for ways to cut corners and get the edge on opponents. They really doubled down on it when being an athlete became such a lucrative career. It's just human nature.

I was largely referencing rational fans, not irrational ones. I don't feel the need to acknowledge irrational fans. Or the average football fan in general.

If it winds up being TJ, indeed. It's a real gray area situation, honestly. I don't think anyone would root for folks to sustain serious injuries, but there's no doubt that it helps your team when such maladies befall an opponent.

Boston's still probably the most all-around talented team in the East. They're going to be there 'til the end, too. It's going to be a war. With Detroit starting to catch fire and the Astros lingering, there's no guarantee that whomever loses the East is going to have a spot in the WC game. O's have to really start to roll, here.

I'm pretty sure everyone on this board would have signed up for "Orioles in 1st place on August 1." But, yes, some will complain vehemently about the numbers.

Next year, they very well could be. And the O's could be a shell of their current selves. As for this year though... the dream's dead. The Yanks actually get a HUGE boost with Jeter's retirement. They were paying one of the worst regular SS's in the game more than $20 million a year for a couple years there. I don't know that A-Rod's return will pay big dividends, though, for the record. He hasn't been a particularly exceptional or healthy bat since 2010 or so... and he's coming off a full year away from the game.

Agreed. Folks around here need to let go of this irrational fear that the Yankees are superhuman. They are cooked.

100% agreed.

I would have preferred a "I think it's a fair swap," option, but, given what we have here, I went with "I'm fine with it but I'll miss him."

Fantastic start to the week. Gotta keep it rolling. Record as better this time a year ago and they finished well out of it. Don't wanna see that again.